FAMILIAR FLAGS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1923, Page 10

FAMILIAR FLAGS

GAY FEATURES OF

LONDON

THE KING'S STANDARD. AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

THINGS THAT ARE J'XOT DONE."

In most of us there lingers that trace of barbarism—some may call it childishness—which makes "dressing-up" a delight, and derives from a fancy ball or a function of uniforms and decorations a greater joy than any humdrum affair' of sombre coats can hope to inspire. Few, perhaps, will admit this—even to themselves.—but the few may confess also to a vague pleasure in the sight of that occasional flag which introduces a note of bright colour into a grey city. To some of these such glimpses are- often more satisfying than the whole city beflagged for a festive occasion; possibly because, in the latter case, "Venetian" masts and tawdry accessories aro often allowed to collaborate, suggesting the appearance of a bedraggled ballet-girl in a coal-bunker. The fact that we of this country are not too prodigal of the display of our country's flag—as are some others—gives it, when it does manifest itself, a certain dignity which it might otherwiso lack, declares Cecil King in the "Manchester Guardian"; and in this racial reticence readers of "Stalky and Co." may see something more besides. , They who can follow only at a distance the things of the sea may occasionally obtain a wistful joy in wandering down the- lower Thames and meditating in lands and seas which certain house-jags .conjure up for the seeing eye: the great shipping companies who' maintain flagstaffs in Cockspur street and the city do something to supply tin's need in London streets also. For many years flags have been familiar, not only in shipping but in shopping centres as well, but these last were mostly covered with lettering, thua being indistinguishable from the ordinary lettered poster. There has been a marked tendency lecontly to introduce national flags, which, being generally based on heraldic principles, have a worthy simplicity and dignity of design. Within the writer's, memory there has been an increase in the occasions .on which flags aro hoisted over Government offices, and tho Cenotaph in Whitehall now affords a permanent display of our national flags by day and night; theso developments may explain the apparent increase also in the knowledge of tho design of our country's flag ami the manner of hoisting it; and it is pleasant to record the fact that on the occasion of tho recent Koyal wedding the writer was able—along the -whole procession route—to detect only three Union Flags hoisted upside dow'ri. The Royal Standard has long been a familiar feature in London—the King's Standard is hoisted over Buckingham Palace when the Sovereign is in residence; and other Royal Standards exisJ too, one of which'may be seen when- Qneeu Alex-andra-is, at Marlborough House. At one time, the Royal Standard was commonly displayed by private individuals on fete days, and King Edward is credited with haviftg first led to its disuse —it never having occurred previously to the general public that tho display by one person of another person's coat-of-arms is one of the things that is "not done."

At sea tlio misuse of flags is visited by severe penalties; on land the machinery for dealing with suo!i matters, if it exists, is evidently somewhat rusty. The White Ensign, appropriated by the Royal Navy in the 'sixties, was often hoisted over churches on church festivals, and—though naval officers^ have occasionally bluffed the vicar into hauAing it down again—it still appears now and then, even in London. But the flag of our national patron, St. George, has largely taken its place, as it should' where the saint to whom the church is dedicated has no arms of his own. On St. George's Day this year his red-cross flng was visible not only on thd city churches but on other buildings also—a fact which was probably influenced by the exploit at Zeebruggc on that day five years ago.

Of the other flags familiar in tho city of London the best known' is that displayed over the Mansion House—a nag which is, like many others, based on that of St. George : the red "dagger" in it is not, by the way, that with which the Lord Mayor slew Wat lyler, but the sword of the soldiersaint from whom Wren's Cathedral takes its name. On Trinity Monday another ancient flag of St. George—displaying four ships—may be seen over Samuel Pepys's old church in Seething lane, when the Trinity Brethren attend their annual service; and still another red-cross flag—also with appropriate additions—has been recently added to the list and adopted by the Port of London Authority. The Union JMag over the Tower of London, like the anchor flag over the Admiralty, is a sign of command.

The most noticable fla.n- in Westminster is probably the Union—hoisted high over the Victoria Tower to indicate (like the light in Big Bc:i) that larliament is sitting. To this have been added three others : that of the London County Council, displaying the red cross, with a lion of England, over a wavy design representing the i names; that of the Middlesex County Court, in which St. George's cross is surmounted by the shield 'of the county; and the beautiful blue flag of Westminster Abbey, containing the arms of at. Mward tho Confessor. The salute to the colours as they are hauled down at sunset or hoisted at !\ ur'nße. V?. so essentially ' a naval affair that civilians cannot be expected to know about it; for naval affairs—especially m this countryi-aro ri<ndlv kept from their gaze. The writor'Nvas therefore, grately impressed during the war by tho respectful demeanour of a l'rcnch crowd which witnessed such a ceremony in a warship on the Seine. VVitn tno coming of spring flags seem to be showing themselves with greater trcquency than before-*von tho omnibus authorities have atoned for the abolition of the old "Union Jack" horse-bus by the embroidering o f national flags on the arms of their in terpreters—thus adding to tho rrailv which the sister Underground has done so much to create through its admirable posters. In a world'still suffering from "Dora," from crude advertise^ ment and other depressing influences against liberty and taste, such innocent amenities do not pass unnoticed and unappreciated. We should feel equal gratitude towards the authorities who hoist over a dark desert of slates and tiles tasteful emblems in gny bunting for good heraldry is always tasteful! Ahrl those of us who still -efuse to grow up may well reserve for those fairy godfathers a niche in that menial Pclef Pantheon which we keep for our heroes and benefactors—duly inscribed "To Great Msn—a Grateful People,"